Scrumptious and Creamy Baked Ziti

A Baked Ziti is not any good unless it is absolutely creamy and rich. This is the reason why cream cheese is considered one of the most essential ingredients of the entire recipe.

The layers of creams, sauce, tomatoes, and mozzarella have made Ziti a comfort food for many. Furthermore, this complex looking dish is effortless to prepare and doesn’t even take much time.

Within one hour, you’ll be curled up on your couch and digging into the creamy, and cheesy layers of Baked Ziti.

Health Benefits:

The cream and cheese in Ziti contains high amount of saturated fats, which are known for providing protection against heart diseases. The traditional method of preparing Ziti includes layers of leftovers in it, so if you have any vegetables from last night’s meal, add them in your baked Ziti for a healthier option.

Ziti pasta itself is low in sodium and is cholesterol free.

Following is the nutritional chart of Creamy Baked Ziti for 8 servings:

Energy                    450 cal

Protein                   17 g

Carbohydrates    48 g

Fat                    22 g

Saturated Fats     11 g

Fiber                  4 g

Sodium                   760 mg

Cholesterol            60 mg

Ingredients

jar of tomato and basil pasta sauce: 1

cream cheese (cut into cubes ): 6 oz

pack of mozzarella cheese approximately 2 cups (shredded): 1

ziti pasta (uncooked): 4 cups

can of diced tomatoes (non-drained): 1

sour cream: 3/4 cup

cup of Parmesan cheese, grated: 1/3

How To Make Scrumptious and Creamy Baked Ziti

1. Begin by preheating the oven at 375°
2. Bring the pasta to boil in a large pot with salted water. Cook until soft but not mushy. Drain and set aside for later use.
3. In a pan add tomato-basil sauce, diced tomatoes, and cream cheese and cook on medium flame for 5 minutes, or until the cream cheese has melted and the contents are well blended together. Stir constantly.
4. Add boiled pasta into the pan and toss the contents well.
5. Grease a 13*9 inch baking dish with cooking spray and pour half of the pasta mixture for the first layer. Spread sour cream on pasta for the second layer of Ziti, followed by a layer of 1 cup of grated mozzarella, and remaining pasta mix. Top the Ziti with the remaining mozzarella cheese and parmesan.
6. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and let it bake of 20 minutes, or until the mozzarella has melted and the top has changed color.
7. Enjoy creamy, cheesy and delicious Baked Ziti.

Trivia:

• Ziti al forno or baked Ziti is a centuries-old Italian dish and used to be served to nobles at palaces during the late middle Ages and Renaissance.
• Originally, Ziti pasta is 25 cm long and it is a family tradition in Italy for everyone to sit around and break them by hand, since it cannot be cooked at this length.

Ziti is known as a dish that "has remained a standby for generations".